Mills-Peninsula (COE)

Mills-Peninsula’s Obesity Surgery Program is designed to help people who are significantly overweight (more than 100 pounds) and who have tried more traditional weight reduction methods withoutsuccess. About 75 percent of our patients achieve weight loss of 50 percent of their total pre-operative weight within 18–24 months after surgery.

Our program provides not only surgery but a complete package of services that brings together professional expertise to help you achieve the best long-term benefit – weight loss for life.

Why choose us?
As a comprehensive health care organization, Mills-Peninsula offers all the services you need to make your obesity surgery a success.

Mills-Peninsula is conveniently located near the San Francisco International Airport, with access to discounted hotel accommodations for Obesity Program participants and their families.

About the program
The decision to have obesity surgery involves significant life changes. According to the American Society for Bariatric Surgery, long-term success depends not just on the surgical procedure but also on availability of services that support you in making permanent changes in diet, fitness and emotional well-being.

That’s why Mills-Peninsula’s program includes expert nutrition counseling, a menu of fitness choices and behavioral health support. If you live in an area that isn’t convenient to take advantage of Mills-Peninsula programs, you should seek similar services in your community.

Insurance coverage for program components will depend on your individual health plan. In general, some will be covered and some may be self-pay.

Mills-Peninsula’s program includes:

• The most advanced gastric bypass surgery available (known as Roux-en-Y). Depending on individual patient condition and needs, most cases can be performed laparoscopically;

• Minimally invasive, adjustable Lap-Band procedure that uses a silicone band to restrict food intake;

• Individualized care coordination throughout the program by a registered nurse program specialist;

• Nutrition counseling and education;

• Monthly patient support groups, workshops and classes to support long-term success;

• Personal exercise program developed by an exercise physiologist, including options such as aquatic exercise;

• Individual psychological therapy, if needed.

The Mills-Peninsula team

Mills-Peninsula’s Obesity Surgery Program brings together a team of professionals to help you achieve your weight loss goals:

• Medical director: Provides program oversight.
  
  
• Nurse specialist/program coordinator: Meets with you and your family members before surgery to ensure that everyone has a good understanding of the procedure and what to expect afterward.
  
  The nurse coordinator then follows your progress on a daily basis while you are in the hospital and is available by phone or e-mail to answer questions and provide support as you progress through the other program components.
  
  
• Surgeons: Each of the Mills-Peninsula surgeons who performs obesity surgery not only has expert technical skills but also a thorough understanding of obesity as a medical condition, its physical and psychological challenges as well as associated disease risks.
  
  
• Registered dieticians: Meet with you before surgery to discuss necessary dietary changes. They visit while you are in the hospital to review immediate postoperative diet restrictions and continue to provide support and education as needed after discharge.
  
  
• Exercise physiologist or aquatic exercise specialist: Provides an evaluation and designs an individualized exercise program. The program also includes membership in the Mills-Peninsula Fitness Center and use of the indoor pool facility.
  
  
• Psychologist or psychiatrist: Provides an evaluation before surgery is scheduled to determine if there are psychological issues that might interfere with successful outcomes after surgery. Members of our mental health team also are available to provide continued therapy after surgery, if desired.
  
  
• Support groups: Mills-Peninsula conducts a monthly obesity surgery support group the first Saturday of each month (holidays excluded). The groups meet at Peninsula Medical Center in Burlingame, in the Sierra Rooms on the ground floor.
  
• A preoperative informational meeting meets 9:30–10 a.m. A postoperative open session meets from 10–11:30 a.m. A long-term session meets at noon to address specific needs of patients one year or more beyond surgery and frequently features guest lecturers.

What are the benefits?

• People who lose at least 50 percent of excess weight report increased energy, endurance and ability to enjoy physical activities. There is usually significant improvement in back and joint pain.
  
  
• Significant decrease in the risk of heart disease, and often improved blood pressure in people with hypertension.
  
  
• Many people with obstructive sleep apnea or respiratory problems experience marked improvement.
  
• The majority of patients with diabetes enjoy improvement in blood sugar control following major weight reduction, and many no longer require medication.
  
  
• Skin problems related to obesity usually resolve.
  
  
• Acid reflux symptoms (e.g., indigestion, heartburn) often improve or disappear.

What is obesity surgery?

There are several kinds of surgical procedures available to help people who are significantly overweight. By reducing the size of the stomach, these procedures restrict the amount of food you can consume.

Long-term success depends in large part on permanently following a restricted diet and making major lifestyle changes.

Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

Mills-Peninsula offers the Roux-en-Y (roo-en-why) Gastric Bypass Procedure. This technique joins the stomach pouch to the small intestine and creates a Y-shaped intestinal junction.

Gastric bypass surgery should not be considered reversible.

Lap-Band procedure

The Lap-Band is an adjustable silicone band placed around the top part of the stomach during a laparoscopic surgical procedure. Laparoscopic surgery is less invasive than open incision surgery because it is performed by placing the instruments and a camera through several small incisions in the abdomen.

Who is eligible?

You must be at least 100 pounds over your ideal weight as listed on the Metropolitan Life height/weight tables and have a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 40. Body mass index is a tool that helps you determine whether your weight is appropriate for your height.

People with a BMI of 35–40 may be eligible if they have two or more diseases associated with obesity, such as diabetes, chronic obstructive sleep apnea, heart disease or arthritis.

Will my insurance pay for obesity surgery?

Many health plans will cover this surgery if the person meets all requirements. For example, you must be able to document that you have tried to lose weight through conventional methods without lasting results. Contact your insurance company prior to making a consultation appointment.

We accept Medicare patients for evaluation who are referred by their own physician. We do not accept Medi-Cal for obesity surgery.

What do I do next?

• Contact the nurse program coordinator for an initial telephone consultation at 800.559.9960.
  
  
• The next step is scheduling a consultation appointment with a surgeon. We recommend you bring a family member or significant other, and come prepared to discuss past experience with conventional weight loss methods.
  
  
• After you have met with a surgeon, you will schedule an appointment for a mental health evaluation. Then, if you and your surgeon agree that obesity surgery is the right decision, you will enter the program, fully supported by our team to make this major life change.
  
  
• Once you are scheduled for surgery, you will be scheduled for a pre-admission testing appointment and classes with the inpatient dietitian and nurse specialist.

Obesity Surgery Program
Peninsula Medical Center
1783 El Camino Real
Burlingame, CA 94010

www.mills-peninsula.org/obesity